现代灰姑娘 英文版 A Modern Cinderella
露意莎.梅.奥尔科特 Louisa May Alcott
DEBBY'S DEBUT. Page 3
a woman of one idea; andthough a slightly.
"No, ma'am, he only bowed. You see somepeople are not so presuming as other peoplethought they were; for we are not the mostattractive beings on the planet; therefore a gentlemancan be polite and then forget us without breakingany of the Ten Commandments. Don't be offendedwith him yet, for he may prove to be somegreat creature with a finer pedigree than any ofyour first families.' Mr. Leavenworth, as youknow everybody, perhaps you can relieve AuntPen's mind, by telling her something about thetall, brown man standing behind the lady withsalmon-colored hair."
Mr. Joe, who was fanning the top of Debby'shead with the best intentions in life, took a survey,and answered readily,--
"Why, that's Frank Evan. I know him, anda deused good fellow he is,--though he don'tbelong to our set, you know."
"Indeed! pray, tell us something about him,Mr. Leavenworth. We met in the cars, and hedid us a favor or two. Who and what is theman?" asked Mrs. Carroll, relenting at oncetoward a person who was favorably spoken of byone who did belong to her "set."
"Well, let me see," began Mr. Joe, whosenarrative powers were not great." He is abookkeeper in my Uncle Josh Loring's importingconcern, and a powerful smart man, they say. There'ssome kind of clever story about his father's leavinga load of debts, and Frank's working a deusednumber of years till they were paid. Good of him,wasn't it? Then, just as he was going to takethings easier and enjoy life a bit, his mother died,and that rather knocked him up, you see. He fellsick, and came to grief generally, Uncle Josh said;so he was ordered off to get righted, and here heis, looking like a tombstone. I've a regard forFrank, for he took care of me through the smallpoxa year ago, and I don't forget things of thatsort; so, if you wish to be introduced, Mrs. Carroll,I'll trot him out with pleasure, and make a proudman of him."
Mrs. Carroll glanced at Debby, and as thatyoung lady was regarding Mr. Joe with a friendlyaspect, owing to the warmth of his words, shegraciously assented, and the youth departed on hiserrand. Mr. Evan went through the ceremonywith a calmness wonderful to behold, consideringthe position of one lady and the charms of theother, and soon glided into the conversation withthe ease of a most accomplished courtier.
"Now I must tear myself away, for I'm engagedto that stout Miss Bandoline for this dance.She's a friend of my sisLer's, and I must do thecivil, you know; powerful slow work it is, too, butI pity the poor soul,--upon my life, I do;" andMr. Joe assumed the air of a martyr.
Debby looked up with a wicked smile in hereyes, as she said,--
"Ah, that sounds very amiable here; but in fiveminutes you'll be murmuring in Miss Bandoline'searm--'I've been pining to come to you this halfhour, but I was obliged to take out that MissWilder, you see--countrified little thing enough,but not bad-looking, and has a rich aunt; so I'vedone my duty to her, but deuse take me if I canstand it any longer."
Mr. Evan joined in Debby's merriment; butMr. Joe was so appalled at the sudden attack thathe could only stammer a remonstrance and beat ahasty retreat, wondering how on earth she cameto know that his favorite style of making himselfagreeable to one young lady was by decryinganother.
"Dora, my love, that is very rude, and 'Deuse'is not a proper expression for a woman's lips.Pray, restrain your lively tongue, for strangers maynot understand that it is nothing but the sprightlinessof your disposition which sometimes runs away with you."
and beat ahasty retreat, wondering how on earth.
"It was only a quotation, and I thought youwould admire anything Mr. Leavenworth said,Aunt Pen," replied Debby, demurely.
Mrs. Carroll trod on her foot, and abruptlychanged the conversation, by saying, with anappearance of deep interest,--
"Mr. Evan, you are doubtless connected withthe Malcoms of Georgia; for they, I believe, aredescended from the ancient Evans of Scotland.They are a very wealthy and aristocratic family,and I remember seeing their coat-of-arms once:three bannocks and a thistle."
Mr. Evan had been standing before them witha composure which impressed Mrs. Carroll with abelief in his gentle blood, for she remembered herown fussy, plebeian husband, whose fortune hadnever been able to purchase him the manners of agentleman. Mr. Evan only grew a little moreerect, as he replied, with an untroubled mien,--
"I cannot claim relationship with the Malcomsof Georgia or the Evans of Scotland, I believe,Madam. My father was a farmer, my grandfathera blacksmith, and beyond that my ancestorsmay have been street-sweepers, for anything Iknow; but whatever they were, I fancy they werehonest men, for that has always been our boast,though, like President Jackson's, our coat-of-armsis nothing but 'a pair of shirt-sleeves.'"
From Debby's eyes there shot a bright glanceof admiration for the young man who could looktwo comely women in the face and serenely ownthat he was poor. Mrs. Carroll tried to appear atease, and, gliding out of personalities, expatiatedon the comfort of "living in a land where fameand fortune were attainable by all who chose toearn them," and the contempt she felt for those"who had no sympathy with the humbler classes,no interest in the welfare of the race," and manymore moral reflections as new and original as theMultiplication-Table or the Westminster Catechism.To all of which Mr. Evan listened withpolite deference, though there was something inthe keen intelligence of his eye that made Debbyblush for shallow Aunt Pen, and rejoice when thegood lady got out of her depth and seized upon anew subject as a drowning mariner would a hen-coop.
"Dora, Mr. Ellenborough is coming this way;you have danced with him but once, and he is avery desirable partner; so, pray, accept, if he asksyou," said Mrs. Carroll, watching a far-off individualwho seemed steering his zigzag course toward them.
"I never intend to dance with Mr. Ellenboroughagain, so please don't urge me, Aunt Pen; "and Debby knit her brows with a somewhat irateexpression.
"My love, you astonish me! He is a most agreeableand accomplished young man,--spent three years inParis, moves in the first circles, and is consideredan ornament to fashionable society.
"What can be your objection, Dora?" cried Mrs.Carroll, looking as alarmed as if her niece hadsuddenly announced her belief in the Koran.
"One of his accomplishments consists in drinkingchampagne till he is not a 'desirable partner'for any young lady with a prejudice in favor ofdecency. His moving in 'circles' is just what Icomplain of; and if he is an ornament, I prefermy society undecorated. Aunt Pen, I cannotmake the nice distinctions you would have me,and a sot in broadcloth is as odious as one in rags.Forgive me, but I cannot dance with that silver-labelled decanter again."
Debby was a genuine little piece of womanhood;and though she tried to speak lightly, hercolor deepened, as she remembered looks that hadwounded her like insults, and her indignant eyessilenced the excuses rising to her aunt's lips. Mrs.Carroll began to rue the hour she ever undertookthe guidance of Sister Deborah's headstrong child,and for an instant heartily wished she had left herto bloom unseen in the shadow of the parsonage;but she concealed her annoyance, still hoping toovercome the girl's absurd resolve, by saying,mildly,--
"As you please, dear; but if you refuse Mr.Ellenborough, you will be obliged to sit throughthe dance, which is your favorite, you know."
Debby's countenance fell, for she had forgottenthat, and the Lancers was to her the crowningrapture of the night. She paused a moment, andAunt Pen brightened; but Debby made her littlesacrifice to principle as heroically as many a greaterone had been made, and, with a wistful look downthe long room, answered steadily, though her footkept time to the first strains as she spoke,--
"Then I will sit, Aunt Pen; for that is preferableto staggering about the room with a partnerwho has no idea of the laws of gravitation."
"Shall I have the honor of averting either calamity?"said Mr. Evan, coming to the rescue witha devotion beautiful to see; for dancing was nearlya lost art with him, and the Lancers to a novice isequal to a second Labyrinth of Crete.
"Oh, thank you!" cried Debby, tumbling fan,bouquet, and handkerchief into Mrs. Carroll's lap,with a look of relief that repaid him fourfold forthe trials he was about to undergo. They wentmerrily away together, leaving Aunt Pen to wishthat it was according to the laws of etiquette torap officious gentlemen over the knuckles, whenthey introduce their fingers into private pieswithout permission from the chief cook. How thedance went Debby hardly knew, for the conversationfell upon books, and in the interest of herfavorite theme she found even the "grand square"an impertinent interruption, while her own deficiencesbecame almost as great as her partner's;yet, when the music ended with a flourish, and herlast curtsy was successfully achieved, she longedto begin all over again, and secretly regretted thatshe was engaged four deep.
"How do you like our new acquaintance, Dora?" askedAunt Pen, following Joe Leavenworth with her eye,as the "yellow-haired laddie" whirled by with theponderous Miss Flora.
"Very much; and I'm glad we met as we did,for it makes things free and easy, and that is soagreeable in this ceremonious place," repliedDebby, looking in quite an opposite direction.
"Well, I'm delighted to hear you say so, dear,for I was afraid you had taken a dislike to him,and he is really a very charming young man, justthe sort of person to make a pleasant companionfor a few weeks. These little friendships are partof the summer's amusement, and do no harm; sosmile away. Dora, and enjoy yourself while youmay."
"Yes, Aunt, I certainly will, and all the morebecause I have found a sensible soul to talk to.Do you know, he is very witty and well informed,though he says he never had much time for self-cultivation? But I think trouble makes peoplewise, and he seems to have had a good deal,though he leaves it for others to tell of. I amglad you are willing I should know him, for Ishall enjoy talking about my pet heroes with himas a relief from the silly chatter I must keep upmost of the time."
Mrs. Carroll was a woman of one idea; andthough a slightly puzzled expression appeared inher face, she listened approvingly, and answered,with a gracious smile,--
"Of course, I should not object to your knowingsuch a person, my love; but I'd no idea JoeLeavenworth was a literary man, or had knownmuch trouble, except his father's death and hissister Clementina's runaway-marriage with herdrawing-master."
Debby opened her brown eyes very wide, andhastily picked at the down on her fan, but hadno time to correct her aunt's mistake, for the realsubject of her commendations appeared at thatmoment, and Mrs. Caroll was immediately absorbedin the consumption of a large pink ice.
out of her body with its despairing quavers.Matters were getting desperate.
"That girl is what I call a surprise-party, now,"remarked Mr. Joe confidentially to his cigar, ashe pulled off his coat and stuck his feet up in theprivacy of his own apartment. "She looks as mildas strawberries and cream till you come to thecomplimentary, then she turns on a fellow withthat deused satirical look of hers, and makes himfeel like a fool. I'll try the moral dodge to-morrowand see what effect that will have; for she ismighty taking, and I must amuse myself somehow,you know."
"How many years will it take to change thatfresh-hearted little girl into a fashionable belle,I wonder?" thought Frank Evan, as he climbedthe four flights that led to his "sky-parlor."
"What a curious world this is!" musedDebby, with her nightcap in her hand. "Theright seems odd and rude, the wrong respectableand easy, and this sort of life a merry-go-round,with no higher aim than pleasure. Well, I havemade my Declaration of Independence, and AuntPen must be ready for a Revolution if she taxesme too heavily."
As she leaned her hot cheek on her arm,Debby's eye fell on the quaint little cap madeby the motherly hands that never were tired ofworking for her. She touched it tenderly, andlove's simple magic swept the gathering shadowsfrom her face, and left it clear again, as herthoughts flew home like birds into the shelter oftheir nest.
"Good night, mother! I'll face temptation steadily.I'll try to take life cheerily, and do nothing thatshall make your dear face a reproach, when it looksinto my own again."
Then Debby said her prayers like any piouschild, and lay down to dream of pullingbuttercups with Baby Bess, and singing in thetwilight on her father's knee.
The history of Debby's first day might serveas a sample of most that followed, as week afterweek went by with varying pleasures and increasinginterest to more than one young debutante.
Mrs. Carroll did her best, but Debby was toosimple for a belle, too honest for a flirt, tooindependent for a fine lady; she would be nothingbut her sturdy little self, open as daylight, gay asa lark, and blunt as any Puritan. Poor AuntPen was in despair, till she observed that the girloften "took" with the very peculiarities whichshe was lamenting; this somewhat consoled her,and she tried to make the best of the pretty bitof homespun which would not and could not becomevelvet or brocade. Seguin, Ellenborough,& Co. looked with lordly scorn upon her, as aworm blind to their attractions. Miss MacRimsyand her "set" quizzed her unmercifully behindher back, after being worsted in several passagesof arms; and more than one successful mammacondoled with Aunt Pen upon the terribly defectiveeducation of her charge, till that stout matroncould have found it in her heart to tweak off theircaps and walk on them, like the irascible BetseyTrotwood.
But Debby had a circle of admirers who lovedher with a sincerity few summer queens couldboast; for they were real friends, won by gentlearts, and retained by the gracious sweetness of hernature. Moon-faced babies crowed and clappedtheir chubby hands when she passed by theirwicker-thrones; story-loving children clusteredround her knee, and never were denied; pale invalidsfound wild-flowers on their pillows; andforlorn papas forgot the state of the moneymarketwhen she sang for them the homely airs theirdaughters had no time to learn. Certain plainyoung ladies poured their woes into her friendlyear, and were comforted; several smart Sophomoresfell into a state of chronic stammer, blush,and adoration, when she took a motherly interestin their affairs; and a melancholy old Frenchmanblessed her with the enthusiasm of his nation, becauseshe put a posy in the button-hole of hisrusty coat, and never failed to smile and bow ashe passed by. Yet Debby was no Edgworth heroinepreternaturally prudent, wise, and untemptable;she had a fine crop of piques, vanities, anddislikes growing up under this new style of cultivation.She loved admiration, enjoyed her purpleand fine linen, hid new-born envy, disappointedhope, and wounded pride behind a smiling face,and often thought with a sigh of the humdrumduties that awaited her at home. But under theairs and graces Aunt Pen cherished with suchsedulous care, under the flounces and furbelowsVictorine daily adjusted with groans, under thepolish which she acquired with feminine ease, thegirl's heart still beat steadfast and strong, andconscience kept watch and ward that no traitor shouldenter in to surprise the citadel which mother-lovehad tried to garrison so well.
In pursuance of his sage resolve, Mr. Joe triedthe "moral dodge," as he elegantly expressed it,and, failing in that, followed it up with the tragic,religious, negligent, and devoted ditto; but actingwas not his forte, so Debby routed him in all; andat last, when he was at his wit's end for an idea,she suggested one, and completed her victory bysaying pleasantly,--
"You took me behind the curtain too soon, andnow the paste-diamonds and cotton-velvet don'timpose upon me a bit. Just be your natural self,and we shall get on nicely, Mr. Leavenworth."
The novelty of the proposal struck his fancy,and after a few relapses it was carried into effectand thenceforth, with Debby, he became thesimple, good-humored lad Nature designed himto be, and, as a proof of it, soon fell very sincerelyin love.
Frank Evan, seated in the parquet of society,surveyed the dress-circle with much the sameexpression that Debby had seen during Aunt Pen'soration; but he soon neglected that amusementto watch several actors in the drama going onbefore his eyes, while a strong desire to perform apart therein slowly took possession of his mind.
Debby always had a look of welcome when hecame, always treated him with the kindness of agenerous woman who has had an opportunity toforgive, and always watched the serious, solitaryman with a great compassion for his loss, a growingadmiration for his upright life. More thanonce the beach-birds saw two figures pacing thesands at sunrise with the peace of early day upontheir faces and the light of a kindred mood shiningin their eyes. More than once the friendly oceanmade a third in the pleasant conversation, and itslow undertone came and went between the mellowbass and silvery treble of the human voiceswith a melody that lent another charm to interviewswhich soon grew wondrous sweet to manand maid. Aunt Pen seldom saw the twain together,seldom spoke of Evan; and Debby heldher peace, for, when she planned to make herinnocent confessions, she found that what seemedmuch to her was nothing to another ear andscarcely worth the telling; so, unconscious as yetwhither the green path led, she went on her way,leading two lives, one rich and earnest, hoardeddeep within herself, the other frivolous and gayfor all the world to criticize. But those venerablespinsters, the Fates, took the matter into their ownhands, and soon got the better of those short-sightedmatrons, Mesdames Grundy and Carroll;for, long before they knew it, Frank and Debbyhad begun to read together a book greater thanDickens ever wrote, and when they had come tothe fairest part of the sweet story Adam first toldEve, they looked for the name upon the title-page,and found that it was "Love."
Fight weeks came and went,--eight wonderfullyhappy weeks to Debby and her friend; for"propinquity" had worked more wonders than poorMrs. Carroll knew, as the only one she saw or guessedwas the utter captivation of Joe Leavenworth.He had become "himself" to such an extent that achange of identity would have been a relief; forthe object of his adoration showed nosigns of relenting, and he began to fear, that, asDebby said, her heart was "not in the market."She was always friendly, but never made thoseinteresting betrayals of regard which are soencouraging to youthful gentlemen "who fain wouldclimb, yet fear to fall." She never blushed whenhe pressed her hand, never fainted or grew palewhen he appeared with a smashed trotting-wagonand black eye, and actually slept through aserenade that would have won any other woman'ssoul out of her body with its despairing quavers.Matters were getting desperate; for horses losttheir charms, "flowing bowls" palled upon hislips, ruffled shirt-bosoms no longer delighted him,and hops possessed no soothing power to allaythe anguish of his mind. Mr. Seguin, afterunavailing ridicule and pity, took compassion onhim, and from his large experience suggested aremedy, just as he was departing for a morecongenial sphere.